Kentucky has been on the floor for summer practice for about six weeks now, and the early buzz has started to separate a few names from the pack. Milan Momcilovic has already drawn plenty of attention, and there’s been talk about how much Malachi Moreno can grow with another year in the program. But when Kam Williams was asked who else has caught his eye, he didn’t hesitate to point to Braydon Hawthorne.
Williams, who met with the media on Thursday, has spent the summer watching from a different angle after being sidelined following a second surgery. That gave him a close look at Hawthorne’s development, and he came away convinced the returning forward is ready to matter.
“To me, not really surprising, but Braydon,” Williams said when asked who has stood out this summer. “He sat out last year, but me playing against him pretty much everyday last year, it’s not really surprising to me. I feel like he has surprised everybody else, because not everyone got the opportunity to see him play, but he definitely will be an X-factor.”
For Williams, the case for Hawthorne starts with growth. He said the redshirt freshman has become more assertive in practice and more comfortable taking charge in ways he didn’t a year ago.
“Last year, obviously, as a freshman coming in, you're not really gonna be as confident when it comes to doing certain things like going first in drills and stuff like that. But he's taking the initiative to - ‘I'm be the first one to show everybody how his drill is.
I'll explain the offense or defense to somebody else’. It's definitely a growth aspect I see with him.”
That kind of progression matters because Hawthorne brings real versatility to Kentucky’s rotation. He can score at all three levels and uses his length well on defense, giving the Wildcats a player who can help in a lot of different spots. Mark Pope has even compared Hawthorne’s mobility to Tayshaun Prince, and that quickness could be a big part of what makes him effective - moving, switching, creating his own shot, and defending multiple positions.
The former top 30 recruit looks like someone who could carve out a meaningful role for Kentucky next season.
In Other News...
Kentuckys Final Roster Spot Just Became A Real Calipari Debate
A federal ruling out of Colorado has added a fresh wrinkle to Kentuckys offseason roster planning, and it comes with a familiar name attached. Judge Charlotte Sweeney granted a class-wide preliminary injunction for players who graduated high school in 2022 and used all four years of college eligibility, opening the door for an extra season that had been in question as the calendar turned toward summer. Former Wildcat Denzel Aberdeen is taking advantage of it and heading back to Florida for his final year, a move that underscores just how much this decision is already rippling through the sport.
For Kentucky, the timing matters because John Calipari had already left one roster spot open while waiting for exactly this kind of clarity. Now the staff can keep weighing whether to fill it based on team needs and player health, which makes the last scholarship less of a formality than it once seemed. What happens next will depend on how Calipari balances depth, flexibility and the realities of the roster he has in front of him, with one more decision still hanging over the summer. [Read more 🡒]
Bombshell NCAA Ruling Could Reopen A Door Kentucky Thought Closed
A fresh NCAA court ruling has created an unexpected wrinkle for college basketball rosters across the country, and Kentucky is among the programs now watching closely. Judge Charlotte Sweeney of the U.S. District Court of Colorado granted a class-wide preliminary injunction that requires the NCAA to declare eligible all high school class of 2022 athletes who exhausted four seasons of eligibility this spring, opening the door for another year of college play if they want it.
For Kentucky, the practical impact could go beyond simple eligibility. Those players are also allowed to enter the transfer portal, which gives them another layer of flexibility as rosters and lineups continue to shift. The ruling may also touch some athletes who already signed professional contracts, though how it applies in those cases is still unclear, leaving plenty of room for programs to sort through the fallout. [Read more 🡒]
Jerone Morton Gives Kentucky A Backcourt Presence Fans Will Appreciate
Jerone Morton arrives at Kentucky with the kind of background that tends to resonate in Lexington. A senior guard from Winchester, he is expected to provide depth behind the Wildcats starting backcourt of Zoom Diallo and Alex Wilkins, and he brings plenty of experience with him after appearing in 92 career games and making 51 starts. For a team that always values backcourt steadiness, Morton looks like a useful piece who already understands what it means to wear the jersey.
Morton has also made it clear he is comfortable embracing whatever role Kentucky needs from him, whether that comes on defense or offense. There is a natural appeal in the fact that he grew up supporting the program, because the opportunity is not just another stop for him, it is a chance to contribute to the team he followed as a kid. That combination of local roots, experience and willingness to help could make him one of the more appreciated additions to the rotation. [Read more 🡒]